Red cards and post match drama overshadow Cittadella’s goalless draw with Ascoli.

Cittadella earn another their 5th point of the season in a 0-0 draw with league leaders Ascoli on Saturday afternoon. Both sides found themselves in the mist of red cards, as each side had their own set of explusions.

Cittadella head coach Edoardo Gorini made no changes to his starting lineup, and started the game with a handful of chances to test Ascoli keeper Nicola Leali. The duo of Enrico Baldini and Mirko Antonucci created a total of 7 chances on the afternoon, but none of them found the back of the net.

The best chance for the Granata to find the breakthrough came in the 23rd minute when the flick on from Domenico Frare found an open Raul Asencio at the back post. However, the Spaniard scuffed a brilliant chance to go ahead wide of the net.

Cittadella were in most of the control in the attacking part of the field. The game changer in the match were the red card episodes, which started just before the halftime whistle. A clumsy challenge from Cedric Gondo on Tommaso Cassandro led referee Francesco Meraviglia to send the striker off. After a quick VAR review, the referee overturned the card, and Gondo stayed on the pitch.

The two teams weren’t done for the first half though. As both squads made their way into the tunnel, Gorini and Ascoli coach Cristian Bucchi exchanged some words along with Cittadella sporting director Stefano Marchetti. Bucchi, as well as Marchetti, were dismissed at the start of the second half.

Then the red cards started to take over. The first incident was Asencio, who’s high boot caught Giuseppe Bellusci in the head. Not even five minutes afterward, Ascoli midfielder Fabrizio Caligara received his second yellow card for a late foul on Nicola Pavan, as both teams fell to 10 men.

At that point, both sides had lost the rhythm to the match that was growing as the match went on with 11 v 11. Leali had to be treated after a collision with Mamadou Tounkara as the striker was trying to poke the ball past the keeper. Photos from after the match showed the keeper to be in bad condition with his left forearm wrapped up.

Cittadella finished the match with 9 men after Dario Del Fabro received the third official red card of the match. In a last ditch effort to stop an Ascoli attack, the defender pulled down an Ascoli attacker at midfield, giving referee Meraviglia no choice but to give him for his second yellow card.

But by far the most interesting and headlining story from the match was the post match reactions. Both Gorini and Bucchi had explained different stories to their halftime confrontation.

“As I went into the tunnel, I was attacked by Gorini and Marchetti.” Bucchi told Picenotime after the match.

“They always complain and cry, 38 matches out of 38. Today they were pardoned.”

On the other side, Gorini didn’t buy into what the Ascoli tactician had to say.

“Bucchi says bull****, it must be clear, I did not complain even for a second, I never complained about the referee decisions.” Gorini went on. “Bucchi does not know me and he cannot tell me that I always complain, before judging people you have to know them.”

Another Ascoli member started to get into the drama. Owner Massimo Pulcinelli–who criticized Cittadella the last time the two teams met–had another go at Gorini and the club itself on his Instagram stories.

“Gorini and Gabrielli keep telling us what we have to say and what we have to do!” he wrote on one of his stories. “I think it’s too ambitious for you guys! We’ll give you some advice: teach football to your players…today you played rugby at the Del Duca!

Pulcinelli continued his complaints stating that him and Ascoli, “don’t owe Cittadella any apologies”, as he wrote on one of his stories.

Despite a goalless draw, there was plenty of drama off the field for this fixture. Cittadella will now have to refocus on next weekend where high-flying Frosinone come into town. For Ascoli, a short trip to Perugia awaits for them next Saturday.

Top Photo: Emiliano Grillotti